How to Repair Holes in Vinyl Siding

How can you repair holes in vinyl siding caused by storm damage? -Tom

Vinyl siding is both tough and durable; but like most building materials, it can sustain damage from storms and extreme weather. There are several ways to repair damaged vinyl siding, depending on the extent of the damage.

Repairing Small Holes: Squirt a generous dollop of exterior caulking that matches the color of the siding into the hole. Allow it to completely dry, then use a razor scraper to cut the excess caulk flush with the outside of the siding. If you can’t find caulking that matches, fill the hole with paintable caulk, then paint over it with exterior, acrylic latex paint after it has cured.

Repairing Larger Holes: Use a siding zip tool (available at home centers) to unlock the damaged siding at the bottom. Place foil tape on the back side of the siding to cover the hole, and lock the siding back in place. Fill the hole with a thin coat of color matched caulking, or paint the caulking to match the siding color as described above.

Repairing Large Holes or Cracks: Use a utility knife to cut the nailing strip off the top of a piece of matching siding that’s larger than the hole or crack, then attach it on top of the damaged piece with construction adhesive. Another option is to use the zip tool to remove the damaged piece of vinyl siding, and replace it with a new piece.

Since it may be hard to match existing siding, it’s a good idea to ask the installer for a few extra pieces and scraps to keep on hand for future repairs.

Backed by his 40-year remodeling career, Danny served as the home improvement expert for CBS’s The Early Show and The Weather Channel for more than a decade. His extensive hands-on experience and understanding of the industry make him the go-to source for all things having to do with the home – from advice on simple repairs, to complete remodels, to helping homeowners prepare their homes for extreme weather and seasons.

We have vinyl coated aluminum siding (installed about 25 years ago) that is peeling at the seems in certain spots on the west side of the house. The peeling exposes the bare sheeting beneath. Is there a way to fix this? The back of the house is the only area affected. Any suggestions/advice is greatly appreciated.

Hi, Geoff,
You’ll need exterior-grade caulk for this project.
Silicone caulk has the one-two punch of serving as a moisture and water repellant.
However, butyl-rubber caulk also is a good choice for this application.
Good luck!

I have window sills that are losing paint. Is this covered by my warranty?
I had America’s Vinyl Exteriors install vinyl siding and window sills in 2006. The lifetime warranty is backed by Crane Performance Siding. Please let me know if you can help me get the window sills repaired.

Hi, Maury,
You will need exterior-grade caulk for repairing holes in vinyl siding.
We like silicone caulk because it has the one-two punch of serving as a moisture and water repellant.
However, butyl-rubber caulk also is a good choice for this application.
Good luck!

Hi, Toni!
We use different brands of metallic foil tape and haven’t endorsed a particular brand.
However, we do recommend purchasing foil tape from your local home center, like The Home Depot.
Anything you can find there should be perfect for this project.
Thanks for commenting. 🙂